Are you a quantitative scientist looking for a project in marine biology? This EASTBIO DTP PhD project with the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture and industry partner Aquanetix provides a unique opportunity to model recirculation aquaculture systems as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Aquaculture is the world’s fastest-growing food production sector. Recirculation aquaculture systems are a growth area for the culturing of salmonids and other fish, allowing improved control and isolation from the environment. Moving from cage or flow-through systems to recirculation poses new challenges in areas such as disease control and water quality management. This project will work on novel modelling approaches for precision aquaculture and to help provide “early warning systems” for spotting system problems before they arise. Modelling approaches vary along an axis from mechanistic (process based) to empirical (data based), and here the student will focus on empirical modelling using the wealth of management data collected by farmers and sensory equipment on-farm, alongside novel machine-learning approaches such as neural networks.
The industrial partner in this project is Aquanetix, an innovative company providing cloud-based software solutions for aquaculture farm management, based in UK and Greece. They are continually working on the next generation of products and services for the industry. This project builds on an existing Stirling-Aquanetix collaboration, through two prior MSc projects trialling the ideas to be explored further here. In turn, Aquanetix work with companies around the globe, and case studies in the project will work with these partners on topics such as coho salmon farmed in New York. The principal supervisor is Dr Darren Green at the University of Stirling, whose research in aquatic health modelling involve data-driven approaches and epidemiology in aquatic systems such as Atlantic salmon and tropical shrimp farms. Prof. Herve Migaud works extensively with practical aquaculture systems including RAS and currently coordinates the ARCH UK Robust Smolt project. Dr Jason Adair has previously applied machine learning techniques in agriculture.
This PhD would suit either a numerically competent biologist or a computer scientist or bioinformatician who wants to work on an applied biological topic. Ideally, the student should have some existing experience with computer modelling and programming. Applicants should have or expect to have a good honours degree (1, 2:1 or equivalent) in a relevant subject from either the maths or biology angle. The platforms used for machine learning will involve Python but training will be provided.
Application forms and Reference Request forms can be downloaded at this link: http://www.eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk/how-apply-0
Completed forms should then be sent to Moira Maron at [Email Address Removed]